PICTURE GALLERY: Nadi 2, Ba 1 (national league game) @ Govind Park, Friday night, 6 March 2015.

Nadi stuns Ba to remain top and unbeaten

Jacks Nadi made a gallant comeback against Ba this evening at Govind Park after being down 1 - 0 at half time to win 2- 1.

Ba started brightly with the U20 reps in the lineup nd Saula Waqa took advantage of error from Nadi defense to put Ba up 1- 0 in the first half.

Nadi failed to settle early and had to dig deep in defence to keep Ba attackers at bay and it stayed that way until the half time.

Stern words from Nadi coach Kamal Swamy at the break  and Nadi came out firing and shocked the vocal Ba Fans inside the first 20 seconds of the start to make it 1-1. Striker Samuela Drudu scored to the delight of Nadi fans who had traveled to Ba to support their team.

After the goal Nadi was all over with Ba having no answer and Nadi displaying wonderful football that has seen them being unbeaten and top of the table.

A tactical change from Nadi coach saw keeper cum striker Ben Aminio replace National U20 player Matasai Toma and it was Ben who scored a stunning goal to give Nadi 2 - 1 win.

The win sees Nadi extend the lead at the top of the table to 7 points over second placed Suva.

Friday, March 6, 2015 9:37:00 PM [From Nadi Football Official Website.] 

This news report was first published online at the following link:

http://www.nadifootball.com/nadi-stuns-ba-to-remain-top-and-unbeaten.aspx

This picture shows Nadi fans hanging out at the half-time break at the town end of the ground. Little did they know that Nadi would equalize in the first 20 seconds of the second-half in this exciting and classic match.

The traveling Nadi fans in the middle of the grandstand. 

Who says our fans don't have the noise and passion of European soccer?

Nadi legend Henry Dyer celebrates a rare Nadi win at Govind Park. Final score: Nadi 2 Ba 1.

To celebrate Nadi's 2-1 win over Ba Henry Dyer stops in for a last drink at Renee's Pub, Naviti Street, Lautoka before heading home. [All pictures taken by Kieran James.]

OPINION: "Lighting and transport in Ba need to be improved to cater for soccer crowds", by Henry Dyer.

We attended the final Saturday match of the Oceania Champions League in Ba and we watched some excellent soccer where FC Gaitcha of Vanuatu beat the New Caledonia team 7-1 while later on Ba won 2-0 against its Samoan opponent. The ground is like a cathedral and a really sacred place for soccer fans from all over Fiji. It is a great spectator experience at Govind Park especially on a cold and fine night like this night was. However, Fiji Football and Ba Town Council need to improve the match-day experience for the traveling hardcore fans once they leave the great stadium itself. The road leading away from the ground is very badly lit at night all the way up to the Queens Highway and footpaths are missing in some sections. Furthermore, after big night games, you must be lucky to get transport back to Lautoka. This night around 30 traveling supporters had to wait in the darkness on the main road in front of the BBQ stand to try to get transport. We were fortunate that a big taxi stopped and charged supporters $3 each to get back to Lautoka. About eleven people jumped in to fill the taxi but others were left stranded. Minibuses have stopped operating by 8pm and the last express bus leaves Ba at 10pm. However, to get the express bus, you first have to make it into Ba town-centre which is over 1km away in the opposite direction from Lautoka. Ba Council and Fiji Football should make sure that transport is waiting to take the hardcore fans back to Lautoka after night matches in Ba or people will be left stranded in Ba overnight which will not be pleasant. Another issue is that on rainy nights, such as the Tuesday night games in Ba in the Oceania Champions League, the grassy area behind the goal at the northern end and the area under the grandstand on the western side (the side near the three toilet blocks) get very muddy. It would be better if concrete terraces could be built behind the northern end goal (in front of the scoreboard) or at least add pebbles in these two areas so that there is not so much mud to fall and slide into [by Henry Dyer and Kieran James, 27/4/2015].

Henry Dyer (former Nadi, Lautoka, and Fiji rep) @ Govind Park main entrance.

This area behind the northern end goal gets very muddy and slippery on rainy days and we suggest it should be replaced by concrete terracing or at the very least pebbles. The mud can be seen very clearly in this picture and it covers the whole behind-goal area from corner-post to corner-post and from inner fence to outer fence.

The northern end goal viewed from the grandstand on the western side @ Govind Park. This day was fine but on rainy days the area behind the northern end goal (between the inner and outer fences) gets very muddy and should be replaced by concrete terracing.

Ba Soccer Crazy Town, we Salute You!

Henry Dyer (left) and Kieran James @ The Central Club, Ba following a Ba versus Lautoka national league match, late 2014.

Henry Dyer @ The Central Club in Ba.

This picture shows Knights Stadium, home of Melbourne Knights FC, in Sunshine North, Melbourne. Terracing such as that seen here on two sides of the ground could be used behind both goals at Govind Park.

Kieran James and Henry Dyer (second and third from left in top row) with Fiji Football President Mr Rajesh Patel (second from left, seated) and friends @ The Central Club, Ba, late 2014.